Update: Sinking of the Cemfjord — Should the Ship Have Been Allowed to Sail?

As we posted on Sunday, the passengers on the NorthLink ferry Hrossey, crossing Pentland Firth, off Scotland, saw a grim sight out the ferry windows — the bow of the cement carrier Cemfjord floating vertically in the water. The ship was loaded … Continue reading

Mapping 1,200 Years of Scottish Shipwrecks

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) has published a remarkable and potentially dangerous interactive map of 1,200 years of shipwrecks in Scottish waters. The map is part of an effort to enhance the maritime record … Continue reading

Wind Farm vs the Blowhard – Donald Trumped in Scotland

The Scottish government ignored the bluff, bluster and threats made by the bilious, billionaire blowhard, Donald Trump, and approved the installation of eleven wind turbines in an experimental offshore wind farm off the coast of Aberdeen. Trump is strongly of the view that the wind … Continue reading

World War II Lard “Good Enough to Have a Fry Up With” Washes Ashore in Scotland

Recent winter storms have washed ashore four large, barrel-shaped pieces of lard onto the beach at St.Cyrus nature reserve in Scotland.  They are believed to be from the wreck of a merchant vessel that was bombed in WW II.  Therese Alampo, St … Continue reading

Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ready to Begin her Long Voyage Home to Australia

Last January we posted that the composite clipper ship City of Adelaide would begin her voyage by barge and then ship  to her namesake city in Australia by March, “if all goes well.”   As is not unusual is this sort of project, … Continue reading

Falls of Clyde, Last Four-Masted Full-Rigged Iron Ship, Needs Volunteers & Funds

Falls of Clyde is the last four-masted full-rigged iron ship and the only surviving sailing oil tanker. The ship was launched in 1878 in Port Glasgow, Scotland, for the Fall Line.  She became a museum ship in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1971, but was … Continue reading

MV Alaed, Russian Ship Carrying Arms for Syria, Makes a U-Turn & Heads Back to Russia

The MV Alaed, a 9,00 DWT geared cargo ship, was reported to be carrying refurbished Russian attack helicopters, as well as missiles and other unspecified munitions, on a voyage from Russia to Syria.  Today, about 50 miles (80.4km) off Scotland’s north coast, the ship turned around … Continue reading

The Clipper Ship City of Adelaide Ready by March for Transport to Australia

Last October, we posted about the shipping cradle that had been fabricated in Australia and shipped to Scotland which will be used to transport the oldest composite clipper ship, the City of Adelaide,  back to her namesake city in South … Continue reading

1,000 Year Old Viking Boat Burial Site Found in Scotland

Archaeologists from the University of Manchester have excavated the first known Viking ship burial on mainland Britain, believed to be roughly a 1,0000 years old. The boat burial site was found near Ockle on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, Scotland.   Archaeologist Dr Hannah Cobb said the “artefacts and preservation make … Continue reading

Tall Ship Elissa in Space and a Possible Rodent Problem

The Tall Ship Elissa was built was built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1877 by Alexander Hall and Co. She has been fully restored and is currently sailing out of Galveston, Texas. She recently successfully completed drydocking and inspection.  A small piece of … Continue reading

Maersk B Class Ships, World’s Fastest Container Ships, in Layup

We have recently posted about the roller coaster ride that has been container ship design over the last few decades.  See Containerships – from Slow to Fast to Slow to Fast to Slow Again.  The smartest minds in the shipping … Continue reading